Book Review: Ten Days with the Highlander by Hayson Manning

Ten Days with the Highlander by Hayson ManningPublished: 2017Genre: Contemporary RomanceFormat: KindlePages: 198Source: OwnDate Read: January 9, 2019Grade: B+Goodreads Synopsis: Go-getter Georgia Paxton has ten days to acquire a quaint hotel in the Scottish Highlands for her travel accommodation company before she’s off on her next grand adventure. Too bad the sexy, broody Scot who owns the place is dead against the idea…and that she’s in very real danger of losing their little bet to see who can convince whom first.

There’s no way Callum MacGregor is going to let the gorgeous American turn his tiny hometown over to bored tourists looking to satisfy their Outlander fantasies. He only has ten days to convince her to slow down and see the magic of the town and its people. If he succeeds, he won’t have to run her out of the county. But if he fails, Georgia might run off with his heart.

REVIEW

This was super cute and felt like a hug on a cold winter day. Callum and Georgia were so affectionate and sweet, and their relationship was refreshing. I do, however, think there could have been a little more conflict in the story, other than just Georgia’s trying to get Callum to make a deal with her company.

I like how Manning threaded some folklore into the story. It added a nice touch. I don’t know how accurate it is, but I thought it made the town seem nice and quaint — perfect for a vacatian getaway, of course.

I was impressed by how plausible the romance seemed even though the book is so short. That can be a problem a lot of the time with shorter books, so kudos to Manning for that. Although I would have liked more conflict, I think the low level of it allowed for the romance to progress more smoothly without resolutions seeming rushed.

I actually bought this only because it was 99 cents and read it in an afternoon. But it definitely wasn’t a wasted afternoon. I really enjoyed the experience and would be willing to read more of Manning’s work.

Favorite Quotes:

They’d sneak down to the kitchen for food and to feed Delilah, then they’d hoof it back upstairs where he’d start mapping Georgia with kisses, worshipping her until he didn’t know where he started and she ended. He wanted to be wrapped up in her, and her in him. (128)

“I could get lost in your eyes.” He pressed a kiss to her forehead, then moved back to regard her. “Right now, they’re the color of a new leaf, soft and light. When you laugh, they’re the color of that jade sweater you wear. When you’re angry, they darken like a stormy sea.” He lifted a lock of damp hair from her cheek and tucked it behind her ear. “They’re every shade of green.” (132)

“Tha thu bòidheach.” He kissed her head. “You are beautiful.” “Oh, that’s what it means.” Her voice wobbled. “Aye, and you are.” (133)